Machine



(No Model.) 2 sheets-slim" 1.

D. A. GORDON. BARREL LEVELING ANDTRUSSING MACHINE. No. 532,322. Patented Jan. 8,1895.

1V) T WESSES ZNVEWTOKR 2 sheets-sheet 2.

(Np Model.)

N O D R 0 G L. D

BARREL LEVBLING AND TRUSSING MACHINE N0. 5 32,32'Z.

Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

0.. wnsnmcmu n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID A. GORDON, or w LLAcEBURe, CANADA.

BARREL LE V.EL|NG AND TRussmc MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,322, dated January 8, 1895.

Application filed May 14, 1894.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, DAVID A. GORDON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Wallaceburg, county of Kent, and Province ofOntario, Canada, have invented a certain new .and useful Improvement in Barrel Leveling and Trussing Machines; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object a barrel leveling and trussing machine of simple construction, whereby the operation of leveling the staves of a barrel and of trussing the same may be accomplished in a rapid, convenient, and efficient manner.

My invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of devices and appliances hereinafter specified and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in ing my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the leveling and trussing plate showing also in plan the operating screw and the downwardly extended trussing arms. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the top plate of the machine. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the plate shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bottom or supporting plate. Fig. 7 is an end. view-in detail of one of the nuts upon the operating screw with the trussing arms connected therewith. Fig. Sis a plan view of the vertically movable disk with the lever arms connected therewith. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the trussing feet. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the same in plan.. Fig. 11 is an enlarged view in side elevation of one of the nuts on the operating screw.

It is well understood that in setting up a barrel,the staves are first set up within trussing hoops. This is ordinarily done by hand.

My invention contemplates a machine to receive the barrel when the staves have thus been set up in the truss hoops lightly, and then to level the staves uniformly and to tighten the truss hoops thereupon so as to render the operation ofbringing the crozeof the several perspective embody- Serial No. 511,113- (No model.)

machine, while at the same time it enables the operator to do the required work rapidly and economically, and in better form than can be done by hand.

I carry out my invention as follows:

A represents any suitable supporting frame, preferably consisting of columns A united at their lower extremities with a supporting base A This base, as will be seen more particularly by reference A to Figs. 2 and 6, is formed with an annular recess or groove a, to receive the chines at the lower ends of the barrel staves. The portion of the base intermediate the annular groove, as at a, is formed so as to aid in guiding the chines of the staves into place within the groove, and to this endthe I upper peripheral edge of said intermediate portion is preferably rounded as shown.

B denotes a barrel, the staves of which have been set up within customary truss hoops C. The annular groove a in the base plate 'allo ws the lower truss hoop to rest thereabove upon the outer surrounding portion of the base plate, the lower chines of the staves extending into the groove f a a distance sufficient to receive the ordinary end hoop, when the operation of leveling the staves and tightening the truss hoops has been completed.

D represents a movable leveling and trussing plate, the corners of which are sleeved upon the columns A of the supporting frame,

as shown at df whereby the plate D may move vertically upon said columns. The under side of the plate D is formed with an annular flange D toextend within the upper chines of the staves,

A ledge D is formed on the plate D surrounding the annular flange D and adjacent thereto to form contact with the upper edges of the upper chines of the staves when the leveling and trussing plate is forced downward to thereby effectually and uniformly level the staves and bring their crozes into ICO line. The same operation of course also levels the lower edges of the staves within the grooves a of the base plate and forces the lower trussin g hoop upward into proper place on the barrel.

E denotes oscillatory arms, each provided with trussing feet E. The arms E are preferably four in number, as are also the columns A. I prefer to employ two trussing feet E upon each oscillatory arm E to engage two trussing hoops above the bilge of the barrel. These trussing feet are made adjustable upon their corresponding arms in any suitable manner, as by means of a set screw e. Each of the trussing feet is formed with a toe e constructed to engage readily the upper edge of the trussing hoop and is preferably formed on the arc of a circle, as shown more particularly in Fig. 10. The oscillatory arms E are connected with the vertically movable plate D in such a manner as to move vertically therewith.

To operate the vertically movable plate D and the oscillatory arms E, I provide an operating. screw F, formed at each side of the center with right hand and left hand square threaded screws. Upon the screw F I prefer to locate a hand wheel F. At each side the center upon the operating screw F, I locate, to travel thereupon, lug nuts G. Pivotally connected with each lug nut G, are trussing arms G, G G and G The pivotal connection of these trussing arms with the lug nuts is indicated at g. Two of the trussing arms engaged with each lug nut project downward and are jointedly connected at their lower ends with the plate D, said plate being provided with double lugs as at d, for the pivotal connection of the trussing arms therewith, as shown at d. The other two trussing arms engaged with each lug nut, as the arms G and G project upward and are jointedly connected at their upper ends with a top plate H, as shown at h, the plate H being formed with double lugs on its under surface for the pivotal engagement of the trussing arms G G therewith.

The top plate H at its corners is sleeved upon the columns A, and made adjustable thereon. Jam-nuts h and 71 above and below the plate upon each of the columns A, hold the plate H in any given position of adjustment. The columns A to this end are screw threaded at their upper ends for a suitable distance so as to permit the top plate I-I being adjusted for leveling and trussing barrels or half barrels of different sizes.

The machine is further provided with a vertically movable disk I, connected with the oscillatory arms E by intervening lever arms J. The upper ends of the oscillatory arms E are projected above the plate D, as shown in the drawings, said oscillatory arms being pivotally connectedin double lugs j upon the upper face of the plate D, as shown at e the upper extremities of each of the oscillatory arms having a jointed connection with the corresponding lever arm J as shown at j. There are preferably four of the lever arms J, their number corresponding with the number of the oscillatory arms E. The vertically movable disk I is operated by means of a lever K, fulcrumed upon a suitable standard L, as shown at Z, said lever being weighted at one end, as shown at K, and provided with an operating handle at the other extremity as shown at K M is a connecting bar engaging the lever K with the disk I. The bar M is made in two parts jointedly connected as shown at i m. and provided with jam-nuts m and m above and below the disk so that the length of the bar M can be readily adjusted.

The plate H is constructed with a central opening as shown at H.

N denotes tension springs connecting the plate D with the plate H for relieving the weight of the plate D from the operating shaft when reversing the machine. The shaft E is provided with sleeves P through which said shaft revolves.

Q denotes tension springs connecting said The lower end of the bar M is threaded sleeves with the plate H to prevent any oscil lation of the shaft F. It will be perceived that the trussing arms engaged with the nuts G, one set being connected at their opposite ends with the plate D, and the other set connected at their outer ends with the plate H, serve in large measure to hold the shaft F from any vertical oscillation, any remaining tendency of the shaft F to oscillate being counteracted by springs Q. The trussing arms are preferably curved, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 7, the shape of the arms serving to more evenly distribute the pressure exerted by the operating screw upon the plate D.

The operation of the device will now be understood and is as follows: The barrel having been set up in loose condition within the truss hoops is placed upon the supporting bed A The operator then manipulates the operating screw shaft F in the proper direction, thereby forcing outward the nuts G thereupon and forcing downward the plate D, bringing the annular flange on its under surface within the upper ends of the staves. As the plate D is forced downward, the ledge about said flange is brought into contact with the upper extremities of the stavesand they are thereby forced uniformly downward into a level position bringing the crozes of the staves into line. The shaft F is then reversed lifting the plate D. It will be noted that when the barrel is placed upon the bed A the oscillatory arms E are expanded. When the plate D has been lifted, after the operation of leveling the staves has been accomplished as above described, the disk I is forced downward by means of the lever K,'bringing the oscillatory arms E with the trussing feet E into contact with the trussing hoops. The shaft F is again operated to force the plate D with the arms E downward thereby tightening the truss hoops. The disk I and plate D are then elevated. expanding the arms E, and the barrel is reversed upon the bed A when the same operation is repeated -to tighten the truss hoops on the other half of the barrel. This completes the operation.

It will be observed that the trnssing arms G G G and G connected in the manner described act in the nature of toggle levers in the operation of the plate D.

It will be seen that the supporting bed or plate A with the columns A and the top plate H, altogether constitute the supporting frame.

Instead of using a hand wheel F, the shaft F might be operated by steam or other power. For this purpose I have shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the shaft F provided with suitable pulleys F What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a barrel leveling and trnssing machine, the combination of a supporting frame provided with vertical columns A and with a supporting base, of a leveling and trnssing plate D sleeved upon said columns and vertically reciprocatory thereon, a top plate H, a rotatable screw, traveling nuts upon said screw, arms connecting said nuts with said plates D and H, a vertically reciprocatory plate I, and vertically reciprocatory oscillatory arms E pivoted to the plate D, and linked 0 to the plate I, sleeves P upon said screw tension springs connecting said sleeves with the.

plate H, a lever to operate said disk, and trnssing feet engaged with said arms substantially as set forth. I

2. In a barrel leveling and trnssing machine, the combination of a supporting frame provided with a supporting bed, an adjustable top plate H, a leveling and trnssing plate D having a vertically reciprocatory movement in connection with said frame, an operating screw to reciprocate the plate D, nuts traveling upon said screw, toggle arms engaging said nuts with said plates D and H, sleeves P upon said screw, a reciprocatory plate I, vertically reciprocatory oscillatory arms E pivoted to the plate D and linked to the plate I, a lever to operate said disk, springs connecting said sleeves with the plate H, and springs connecting the plates D and H, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID A. GORDON. 

